SHW245. Novice Eligibility

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SHW245. NOVICE ELIGIBILITY - AMATEUR AND YOUTH. Every person competing in a novice amateur or novice youth class must possess a novice amateur or novice youth membership card.

  • SHW245.1 Novice eligibility point ranges will be established annually for each class. Annual class point ranges become effective January 1 each year based on the cumulative average of all novice competitors, per class, during the three previous calendar years. The Novice eligibility point cap will be the greater of 25 points or the 90th percentile. Novice eligibility point ranges and percentiles, per class can be found at aqha.com/leveling.

  • SHW245.2 Novice points are recorded on the exhibitor's record and not on a horse's perfor­mance record.

  • SHW245.3 For three years immediately previous to application for Novice eligibility in a particular class, an individual may not have exceeded the point cap described in SHW245.1 for that particular class. For example, if the Novice eligibility point cap established for a particular year in western riding is 45, and an individual in the immediately previous three years to application has earned 12 novice youth western riding points + 8 youth western riding points + 12 novice amateur western riding points + 8 amateur western riding points + 5.5 open western riding points (45.5 TOTAL points), he/she is not eligible to participate in Novice western riding. Additionally, for three years immediately previous to application for Novice eligibility in a particular class, an individual may not have earned a superior award for that particular class in any equine organization or association with a membership of more than 7,500 members; won a world, reserve world, national or reserve national championship title for that particular class in any equine organization or association with a membership of more than 7,500 members; won an international or international reserve title for that particular class in the European Championships or German Championships regardless of whether the international class in question was an AQHA-approved class; or won a total of $5,000 in cash and prizes with any equine organization or association.

  • SHW245.4 If the number of points in a particular class earned by a novice in a current calendar year plus the immediately previous 2 calendar years exceeds the Novice eligibility point cap described in SHW245.1, such novice may continue to compete in such class until the end of the current calendar year but may not compete in such class in subsequent years unless and until they meet the eligibility requirements specified in SHW245.3. Likewise, if during a calendar year, a novice earns in a particular class a superior award, world title, reserve world title, national title, reserve national championship title, international title, international reserve title or a total of $5,000 in cash and prizes as specified in SHW245.3, such novice may continue to compete in such class until the end of the current calendar year but may not compete in such class in subsequent years unless and until they meet the eligibility requirements specified in SHW245.3.

  • SHW 245.5 Any individual who has been an accredited horse show judge will not be eligible to participate in novice competition.

  • SHW245.6 Points earned in the novice division may not be used for any amateur or youth awards, or world show qualification.

  • SHW245.7 Applicants are responsible for verifying eligibility regarding earned halter and performance points in novice amateur, amateur, novice youth, youth divisions and open. Applicants may contact AQHA concerning halter and performance points in novice amateur and novice youth divisions that have been reported to AQHA and recorded in AQHA's records.

  • SHW245.8 Novice exhibitors may participate on a non-owned horse in novice classes only at AQHA approved shows without the use of permits. The recorded owner retains the ability to show the same horse in any class other than the same class as the novice exhibitor. This option is not available to competitors at the top 10 show circuits. The top 10 show circuits can be found at aqha.com will be determined by the number of entries in the previous year. For the top 10 shows (provided the show accepts permits), a novice amateur or novice youth member may apply for up to 10 permits allowing them to compete with one permit per show on a non-owned horses in novice division classes only. Points earned by novices, whether using permits or not, will count toward the point cap per class for novice eligibility. Applications for permits shall be directed to the AQHA competition department on application forms provided by AQHA or an application may be filled out at an AQHA-approved show, and be granted as AQHA, in its sole discretion, determines. Exhibitors must have a current novice amateur or novice youth membership to participate. All novice rules still apply whether using permits or not.

  • SHW245.9 A novice amateur member or novice youth member wanting to show a college or university owned or leased horse in novice classes only must meet the following requirements:

    • SHW245.9.1 The individual must be a current novice AQHYA member or an AQHA novice amateur member prior to the AQHA-approved show at which they wish to compete.

    • SHW245.9.2 The individual must request an application from AQHA to be eligible to participate in this program. The application must be submitted and approval must be received prior to participating in the AQHA-approved show. A letter will be sent to the applicant either confirming or denying the application. If the application is approved, the letter must be presented to the show secretary at time of entry.

    • SHW245.9.3 The following items must be submitted with the application: verification that the individual is enrolled in 12 credit hours per semester, signature of college or university equestrian team coach or equine program instructor, list of college or university owned or leased horses that the individual will be showing and photocopy of student identification.

    • SHW245.9.4 For AQHA purposes the spring semester will be from January 1 - June 30 of the current year and the fall semester will be from July 1 - December 31 of the current year.